Friday Morning Update

The Rebels led the entire games, once by 22 points. They went 10 minutes without scoring in the second half, and Florida made it a one-possession games. Ole Miss responded and hit some late free throws to seal the win.

Sometimes the second year of program building is more difficult than the first. Last year Matt Insell had a stabilizing senior in point guard Valencia McFarland. This year he has brought more talent into the program, but it’s young — very young. Right now the Rebels are starting three freshmen and a first-year transfer alongside an All-SEC player in Tia Faleru.

Faleru had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and one of those freshmen, Aqueen Hayes, had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Some of the non-conference games against strong competition — Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and Baylor — showed those growing pains.

Now the Rebels are 2-1 in SEC play for the first time in four years. Last night’s win was the first on the SEC road after 14 straight losses.

Things could get interesting for this team.

In other news …

Interesting comments recently in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Brentwood, Tenn., WR Van Jefferson who has said he’s split between Ole Miss and Georgia. Lots of love for UGA to a paper that covers the Bulldogs, but he will take other visits and says it’s too hard for him right now to make a call between Georgia and Ole Miss. ….

The Rebels’ near-miss in Lexington has people rethinking the odds of a perfect season for Kentucky. Good stuff here from John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader. …

Next up for Ole Miss is an improving South Carolina team which opened SEC play Wednesday with a close loss against Florida. …